Germany's Helmut Kohl 'wanted half of Turks sent back'

Former Chancellor Helmut Kohl wanted to halve the number of Turks living in West Germany in the early 1980s, British official papers cited by a German magazine reveal.

He discussed the idea with then UK PM Margaret Thatcher at a meeting in Bonn in 1982, Spiegel Online reported.

Mr Kohl said that Turks "did not integrate well", minutes of the meeting said.

He told Mrs Thatcher he wanted their numbers cut by half within four years.

Spiegel Online said the minutes were marked "secret" but have now been released as the period of confidentiality has ended.